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The depth in talent in secondary school ranks continues to impress new coach Mary-Jane Araroa who has confirmed her New Zealand Secondary School team to travel to Australia.

Twelve players and three reserves have been named in the national team in what Araroa said proved a tough selection process.

The team will assemble in Auckland on September 25 and travel across the Tasman to attend the Netball Australia 17-and-under training camp. The NZSS team will take part in round-robin match play against three 17-and-under teams – competing against the best 36 Australian athletes in their age-group.

Coach Mary-Jane Araroa said she was looking forward to working with the talented group of school athletes.

“I have seen some real turn of events over the years within this age group and the competition for spots at this level has gone from strength to strength,” she said. “It is just amazing as the standard of skill and talent is exceptional.

“I am very excited and can’t wait to start focusing on this core group.”

The Emerging Talent selection panel of Araroa, Charissa Barham, Pelesa Semu, Nic Jones, Jen Hooper and Lee-Anne Clark had a tough ask of naming players in the absence of a regular trial and players were considered over a number of competitions including the Beko Netball League and the recent Netball NZ U19 and U17 Champs.

It meant four players were named from outside the New Zealand Secondary Schools squad which had been named after the national development camp in January.

They also lost shooters to the NZU21 team which enabled Tamara Leoni, from Epsom Girls Grammar, and

Diahn Te Pania-Strickland, from Manukura, to be selected from outside the squad.

Also picked from outside of the squad include mid-courter Braxton Te Riini (Manukura) and defender Lyanne Eukaliti (Hillcrest High School) who both stood out at the Netball NZ U19 Champs.

Araroa, who has stepped up from the assistant role last year, said the panel had been impressed by the depth of talent to select from.

Wellington Black A have kept two hands firmly on the Anna Rowberry Cup for a second year, beating perennial rivals Auckland 1 in the final of the 2017 Netball NZ U17 Champs played at the Pukekohe Netball Centre.

Playing outdoors but undercover, before an enthusiastic crowd of 400, the defending champions Wellington A Black surged ahead in the third quarter of the final, and had to fend off a final charge by Auckland 1, to win 34-25.

Wellington’s assistant coach Irene van Dyk attributed the victory to a special harmony in the team.

“We didn’t have a full squad until the week before the tournament, with two players in the Beko [Netball] League, and others fulfilling commitments to other sports. But they all worked so hard to bring it together, which showed the harmony in this amazing team,” she said.

Wellington had been pushed hard in the morning’s semi-final clash, by the young Howick Pakuranga team of predominantly Year 11 players; the capital side eventually winning 29-22. Auckland had a more comfortable run into the final, beating Christchurch 54-26.

The Aucklanders took an early lead in the final, with goal shoot Bianca Nagaiya shooting well. But Wellington put pressure on late in the quarter, forcing Auckland into unnecessary errors, to close the gap to 7-5 in Auckland’s favour.

Van Dyk gave the Wellington side a rousing pep-talk, and they responded by contesting every ball and snatching the lead. Auckland had adapted by the end of the quarter, but Wellington held onto their advantage, 13-12, at halftime.

A wall of defence across court from Wellington gave them a formidable restart. Wing attack Salote Taufa deftly fed shooter Saviour Tui, for Wellington to score six unanswered goals in the third quarter, and lead 26-17 going into the final spell. Although Auckland rallied, Wellington maintained their intensity to take the win for the second year running.

Howick Pakuranga took out third place with a 29-16 victory over Christchurch.

The four-day outdoor tournament is the largest event on Netball New Zealand’s calendar, featuring 38 teams and more than 450 talented young players from throughout the country.

The final four teams to fight it out for the Anna Rowberry Cup at the Netball NZ U17 Champs are all the usual suspects, bar one.

Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch – all winners of the title over the past four years – have again played their way through to tomorrow’s semi-finals at the Pukekohe Netball Centre. But the young Howick Pakuranga side is the giant-slayer joining them.

Howick Pakuranga boasts a team of predominantly Year 11 players. They beat Taranaki 37-20 in this morning’s top 16 playoff match, to come up against a more experienced Trust Waikato Hamilton City in the quarterfinals. But with their strong defence and steady shooters, the Howick Pakuranga side caused a minor upset in outgunning Hamilton, 32-20.

They will now line-up against defending champions Wellington Black A in tomorrow morning’s semi-final clash. Wellington continued their determined march towards the final with two almost identical victories today – 44-21 over Hawkes Bay, and 44-19 over Manawatu in the quarter-final.

Auckland 1 were also in decisive form, knocking Harbourside out of contention with a 72-21 defeat, before coming up against their sister side, Auckland 2, and winning 35-22.

Their semis opponents, Christchurch, had a tougher battle to make it through to the top four, with a one-goal win over North Harbour 1, 35-34. But in their quarter-final square-off with Eastern Waikato, the tall timber and fast mid-court in the South Island side proved too strong in the last game of the afternoon, winning 40-33.

Tomorrow’s final will be played at 2.45pm at the Pukekohe Netball Centre – the first time a national tournament has been played there.

All of the placings of the 38 teams in this year’s Netball NZ U17 Champs will be determined on tomorrow’s final day. The four-day outdoor tournament, featuring more than 450 talented young players from throughout the country, is the largest event on Netball New Zealand’s calendar.

Day 3 ResultsTeam ATeam BTrust Waikato Hamilton City B47V27Mid CanterburyPukekohe31V41WhanganuiWellington B Gold47V30NelsonGisborne34V37Mangere OtahuhuKo Rua36V38RotoruaKapiti40V13WairarapaKapi Mana19V25Hutt ValleyThames Valley35V33North CanterburyInvercargill26V38Waitakere 1Papakura36V39WhangareiWellington Black A44V21Hawke's BayAuckland 172V21HarboursideEastern Bay of Plenty26V38Trust Waikato Hamilton City AEastern Waikato43V34Waitakere 2Dunedin30V41ManawatuNorth Harbour 225V55Auckland 2Taranaki20V37Howick Pakuranga AChristchurch35V34North Harbour 1Rotorua 51 (WBD)V24InvitationalSelwyn53V15WairarapaTrust Waikato Hamilton City B29V22Hutt ValleyWhanganui40V34Thames ValleyMid Canterbury33V28Kapi ManaPukekohe33V32North CanterburyNelson39V38InvercargillGisborne33V30PapakuraWellington B Gold31V35Waitakere 1Mangere Otahuhu30V36WhangareiKo Rua39 (WBD)V29InvitationalWellington Black A44V19ManawatuTrust Waikato Hamilton City A20V32Howick Pakuranga AHawke's Bay44V36DunedinEastern Bay of Plenty34V28TaranakiKapiti28V29SelwynHarbourside24V48North Harbour 2Waitakere 225V47North Harbour 1Auckland 135V22Auckland 2Eastern Waikato33V40Christchurch*Please note: Each team who plays the Invitational Team will be awarded 4 points for a win, and the score will not be included in the goal differential calculation. For this reason, in the system these games have been recorded as ‘won by default’ (WBD).

The top 16 teams have been determined after day two of the Netball NZ U17 Champs at the Pukekohe Netball Centre, with sides from the Waikato Bay of Plenty stamping their mark.

Both Eastern Waikato and Eastern Bay of Plenty went through pool play unbeaten to advance to the play-off rounds which begin tomorrow.

They are joined by the Mt Maunganui-based Harbourside, who edged out the top Waitakere team for a top 16 place, by virtue of a 43-42 nail-biter over Whanganui in the morning. Trust Waikato Hamilton City made it the fourth team from the Waikato Bay of Plenty zone to progress through to the top playoffs.

The Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone continues to grow in force through a strong focus on developing its community coaches.

The biggest upset of the day was handed out by Hutt Valley, who toppled the otherwise unbeaten Manawatu side in the morning’s rounds. Playing as a team and carrying out the basics well, the Hutt side pulled off a spine-tingling 31-30 victory. But it wasn’t quite enough to see them through to the top 16, with Waitakere 2 claiming the spot on goal differential.

The leading teams from Auckland and Wellington continued their assertive runs at this tournament, using their strong benches to good effect and notching up sizeable victories to round out pool play unbeaten. North Harbour and Howick Pakuranga have also advanced without a blemish from their four qualifying matches.

The Netball NZ U17 Champs is the largest event on Netball New Zealand's calendar – this year featuring 38 teams and more than 450 talented young players across the four-day tournament.

Post-section play begins at 8.15am tomorrow, with the quarter-finals played in the afternoon. It is the first time a national Netball tournament has been held at the Pukekohe Netball Centre.

Only hours after the NZU21s side won their second successive World Youth Cup in Botswana, the next generation of netballers hoping to defend the title in four years’ time were showing their skills on day one of the Netball NZ U17 Champs at Pukekohe Netball Centre.

The Netball NZ U17 Champs is the largest event on the Netball New Zealand calendar – this year featuring 38 teams and more than 450 talented young players across the four-day tournament.

“The beauty of this tournament is that it gives a snapshot of the future of New Zealand netball,” Emerging Talent Panel Selector Lee-Anne Clark says. “Even after the first day, it’s evident that there is a pretty high standard of netball coming through at the under 17 level. It’s our current area of strength, and the next generation of World Youth Cup stars will no doubt come from this group of players.”

Even after the first day of pool play, it was also evident that the strongholds of U17 Netball in recent years – Auckland and Wellington – are continuing their domination.

Auckland 1, a team boasting strength in all areas through the court, had two decisive wins today; the first over home side Pukekohe, 53-19, and then a similar 52-25 victory over Taranaki.

Defending champions Wellington A have the advantage of experience on their side. Two of their players, Ainsleyana Puleiata and Renee Savai’inaea, were in the Netball Central team in this year’s Beko Netball League; while Silver Ferns shooting legend Irene van Dyk is assistant coach to former Wellington NPC coach Dion Te Whetu.

They beat Papakura 51-8 in their opening match, and followed that up with a convincing a 46-24 win over Christchurch in the afternoon.

In one of the early surprises, Auckland 2 overcame the traditionally strong Trust Waikato Hamilton City A side, 43-30.

Pool play continues from 8.15am tomorrow at the Pukekohe Netball Centre - the first time a national Netball tournament has been held there.

*Please note: Each team who plays the Invitational Team will be awarded 4 points for a win, and the score will not be included in the goal differential calculation. For this reason, in the system these games have been recorded as ‘won by default’.

Piling on a decisive second half, the NZU21s team secured a fourth Netball World Youth Cup title when fending off Australia 60-57 in a thrilling final in Botswana on Sunday.

In a memorable first, with the Netball World Youth Cup 2017 (NWYC2017) being held on the African continent for the first time, New Zealand created history by winning back-to-back titles for the first time in their history, defending the title they won in Scotland in 2013 while adding to the 1992 and 2005 editions.

The value of the new elite domestic competition, which was introduced this year, was highlighted in New Zealand’s unbeaten campaign in Botswana where six of the 12-strong NZU21s team were regular starters for their ANZ Premiership teams.

New Zealand employed the same starting seven as used in the semi-final, Australia having a slight edge through the opening exchanges against their trans-Tasman neighbours.

New Zealand squared up the scores midway through the quarter after the Australian shooting duo of Sasha Glasgow and Kiera Austin had pushed their team out to an early lead. The New Zealanders struggled a little to breach Australia’s defensive wall through the midcourt where they were forced to work overtime to move the ball forward.

Wing defence Jamie-Lee Price, who had played much of her earlier netball in New Zealand, and in-circle defender Tara Hinchcliffe were instrumental in disrupting New Zealand’s flow and it was an efficient Australia who had their noses in front 17-14 at the end of a high-scoring first quarter.

Pocket rocket centre Kimiora Poi was injected into the match midway through the second stanza, teaming with her Central Beko Netball League team-mate Mila Reuelu-Buchanan in lifting New Zealand’s attacking momentum.

Corresponding with the defensive pairing of Kelly Jury and captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson tightening up under the Australian hoop, New Zealand staged a stirring closing half to the second stanza.

The long-limbed Jury became an increasingly influential figure, her disruption of the Australian shot and rebounding strength handing extra opportunities New Zealand’s way. As Australia’s shooting percentages fell away, New Zealand’s grew stronger when they trailed by just one, 28-27, at halftime.

Goal attack Monica Falkner was introduced for the second half, the seamless change coinciding with a telling third quarter from New Zealand.

Shooter Maia Wilson continued her outstanding tournament with a dominant display under New Zealand’s hoop, the dynamic midcourt pairing of Reuelu-Buchanan and Poi were pivotal in driving forward and finding the shooters while Sokolich-Beatson and Jury took the sting out of Australia’s scoring opportunities.

With New Zealand jumping out to a six-goal advantage and in control, Australia replaced Glasgow with towering shooter Emma Ryde in a bid to stem the flow. But it was the young women in black who went into the last break with all the momentum, when leading 45-41.

In a frenetic finish, Australia threw everything into their efforts as they tried desperately to reel in their old foes but anchored by their two Silver Ferns, Jury, the player of the match, and the rock-solid Wilson, New Zealand proved unshakeable.

Continuing to fine-tune, the NZU21 team delivered another decisive effort when despatching Pacific neighbours Samoa 85-33 on the second day’s play at the Netball World Youth Cup Gaborone 2017 (NWYC2017).

The New Zealanders were again able to give a number of players decent court time following an equally impressive first-up 89-22 win over Northern Ireland in their first match of pool play in the Botswana-based tournament. Showcasing their depth of talent and variety, New Zealand were able to play several combinations without disrupting the structure or flow of their game plan. Defender Michaela Sokolich-Beatson was the only player not to take the court, the captain recently returning from a back injury.

``We’re pleased with how we’re progressing after the first two games of pool play,’’ coach Kiri Wills said. ``It’s great that we’ve been able to run a number of different combinations while giving all of our players good court time as we get important match-time under our belts ahead of the challenging games ahead.’’

New Zealand were quickly into stride, the connection between fleet-footed wing attack Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and goal shoot Maia Wilson on song from the outset. Samoa had few answers to Reuelu-Buchanan’s slick play where her quick turn and release to Wilson under the hoop gave New Zealand the upper hand. At the other end of the court, Kelly Jury and Abby Erwood’s superior height allowed the in-circle defensive duo to take ownership of Samoa’s circle.

Quick with their through-court transition and a rock solid defence propelled New Zealand to a handy 19-9 lead at the first break.

Retaining the same seven for the second quarter, New Zealand scored the first five goals on the resumption to ensure there was no slip in standards.

In her first outing of the tournament, WBOP goal attack Monica Falkner showed her increasing confidence from range in a telling partnership with Wilson. The defensive trio of Kelly, Jury and Fa’amu Ioane nullified Samoa’s options on attack while restricting their opponents to just eight goals.

Displaying the overall strength of their 12-strong team, New Zealand showed few chinks in whatever combination took the court, finishing with a flourish and scoring 24 goals in the run home.

Showing her versatility, Falkner finished with a stint at wing attack while rising young teenaged talent Tiana Metuarau produced a 15-minute final quarter cameo with her combined shooting ability while also picking up useful turnover ball on defence. New Zealand play their third pool match against Scotland later tonight (Monday, NZ time).

Giving most of their players an early taste, the NZU21 team opened their Netball World Youth Cup Gaborone 2017 (NWYC2017) campaign in style with an 89-22 win over Northern Ireland.

Putting the finishing touches on their preparation in South Africa ahead of the Botswana-based tournament, the New Zealanders finally got to put months of hard work and fine-tuning into practice with a commanding outing.

In one of the most talented NZU21 teams ever assembled, captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson was able to take a full part in the action after being sidelined with a back injury for the last two weeks of the ANZ Premiership, having stints at both goal defence and wing defence in the team’s tournament opener.

``That was a good starting point for us and it was great that we maintained a consistent intensity through the four quarters,’’ NZU21 coach Kiri Wills said afterwards.

``It has set a platform and now we need to keep building towards the more challenging games ahead. It was great to get a number of players out on court and now it’s about pressing forward and focussing on our standards and improving across the board.’’

With a strong representation of ANZ Premiership performers, there was no shortage of firepower in New Zealand’s starting line-up which included Silver Ferns Kelly Jury (goalkeeper) and Maia Wilson (goal shoot) as well the team’s youngest player Tiana Metuarau, the teenaged schoolgirl shooter showcasing her enormous talent during her first year at the elite level.

After winning the last title, held in in Scotland four years ago, the New Zealanders are looking to defend the title for the first time in their history after achieving wins in 1992, 2005 and 2013.

Able to make changes seamlessly throughout the match helped New Zealand finally get into competition mode while blowing out the cobwebs ahead of the remaining eight-day tournament.

Mainland’s Charlotte Elley and Central’s Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, both coming off strong Beko Netball League seasons, teamed as the midcourt pairing for the first half while lively wing defence Fa’amu Ioane (Northern Stars) rounded out the team for the opening half.

The New Zealand team held their shape perfectly through the first 30 minutes to post quarter scores of 21-6 and 43-11. Changes for the second half included Netball South’s Aliyah Dunn coming on at goal shooter, her southern team-mate Abby Erwood taking over at goal defence, Mainland’s Kate Lloyd also joining the defence line at goalkeeper and Central’s exciting young wing attack Kimiora Poi slotting into the pivot’s role at wing attack.

The changes were executed with the minimum of fuss, the New Zealanders pushing out to a 66-18 lead at three-quarter time before restricting Northern Ireland to just four goals in a dominant final stanza.

New Zealand meet Samoa in their second of four pool matches early Monday morning, broadcast LIVE on the NNZ Facebook page from 12am (NZST).